Revolving electrical contact point



Oct. 30, 1945. WIHANTO 2,387,961

REVOLVING ELECTRICAL CONTACT POINT Filed Dec. 13, 1943 IN VEN TOR.

4004/?! K. Mil/IN O BY A'ITD R N EYE .combination and arrangement of par Patented Oct. 30, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,387,961 REVOLVING ELECTRICAL CONTACT POINT .Adolph K. Wihanto, Boston, Mass. Application December 13, 1943, Serial No. 514,123

2 Claims.

The invention relates to an ignition circuit controller, and more especially to a revolving elec trical contact point for combinedtimers and distributors for motors employed in aircraft and land or water vehicles and electric on-off circuits.

The primary object of the invention i the provision of a device of this character, wherein carbon, soot, and other foreign matter formations are removed from the contacts in the working of a timer and distributor installed within a motor set-up, as for example, internal combustion engines, or the like, the contacts being self-cleaned, the rotation of one point keeping both points clean by friction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein the rotatable tubular contact whichengages a cam on the distributor shaft of a timer and distributor is unique and novel in construction, to assure perfect working at all times, thereby re lieving repair costs, and assuring the operation of the motor in association therewith.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein the parts are readily and easily removed for replacement with dispatch, the contact being conveniently adjusted when the occasion requires.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efilcient in operation, strong, durable, practical, assured for maximum use, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and otherobjects in View the invention consists in the features of construction, as will be hereinafter more fully described, il ustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally a portion of the cup-like housing for a timer and distributor, or an ignition circuit controller, or the like, and centrally located within this housing is the hexagonal shaped rotor l0, made from any suitable insulating material. and

such rotor can be of any other formation, if desirable, to eifect a cam, it being driven by a timer shaft, not shown, or the usual driver shaft employed in an engine in the ordinary manner.

Within the housing A concentric to the cam 10 is an upright pintle stud l l, which is fixed at one end into a base-piece l2, having near opposite ends elongated slots l3, receiving fasteners M, which are secured home in the lowermost portion of the housing A, and these slots and fasteners allow adjustment of the base-piece l2.

Rotatably fitted on the pintle stud II is an elastic wheel or disk l5, which is fitted in a hub portion created from outturned rims l6 and I1, respectively, at the inner ends of telescopically interiitted held turning sleeves l8 and I9, respectively. The rims l6 and l l are provided with biting edges 20, which engage in the wheel or disk I 5 to hold these intact. The sleeve 18 has an outturned annular bead 2| at its upper end to overlie the upper end of the sleeve [9 for assembly purposes.

At opposite ends of the sleeve H] are washers 23 and 24, respectively, which encircle the pintle stud ll, and the washer 24 is played upon by a coil spring 25 held in place by washer 24b and a split ring fastener 26, latched with the upper end of the spindle stud II and in this manner the wheel or disk I5 is removably and rotatably retained on the said stud ll.

The wheel. or disk 45 is intermittently engaged by the gripping elements 26 of the cam ID, the periphery of the wheel or disk l5 yielding thereto, and in this manner the latter is-rotated, the outer sleeve l9 being effective as a contact electrically with a point 21 on a laterally swinging lever-arm 28, pivoted at 29, the point 21 being preferably made from platinum or other suitable material. Acting against this lever-arm 28 is a tensioning spring 30, which is fitted to a terminal post 3|, and this spring urges the striker projection 32 upon the said arm 28 in the path of the areas 26 for the electrical make and break action between the point 2'! and the sleeve 19, the point being in engaging position in Figure 1 of the drawing.

Arranged in the housing A is a clip 33 for a condensor 34, the latter having the lead wire 35 connected to the terminal post 3|.

The salient features of the invention reside in the wheel or disk I 5, the sleeves l8 and IS, the mounting of these and the engagement of the cam ill with this Wheel or disk 15 for the rotation thereof.

, It should be seen that the construction hereinbefore set forth prevents carbon formation or foreign matter accumulations at the make and break points, for ignition circuit control in the ordinary well known manner through the use of this rotating contactor in engine equipment for land, air and water crafts or vehicles, or interrupted electrical systems.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of operation of the device will be clearly understood, and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

Changes, variations and modifications may be made in the invention as fall properly within the scope of the claims hereunto appended, without departing from the spirit of the said invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What is claimed is: v

1. A device of the kind described, comprising a rotor forming a timing cam, a rotatable contact having an elastic wheelimpinged by thecam for rotation thereby through frictional engagement with the wheel, and a make and break contact movably supported for engaging the rotatable contact and intermittently actuated by the cam. 

